Flow device



Feb. 23, 1937. J. R. LONG FLOW DEVICE Filed April 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m m al@ Feb. 23, 1937. J. R. LoNG 2,071,639

FLOW DEVICE Filed April 19, 1955 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 Id@ I Jon/(Long &\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ l w v m .Af k \\\V\\\W\\\\ u M a* v 7 7| .-.11.1, a 5 f Z n, A M Auw Patented Feb. 23, 1937 PATENT OFFICE FLOW DEVICE Jon R. Long, Fort Worth, Tex. Application April 19, 1935, serial No. 17,215

7 Claims.

This invention relates to `new and useful improvements in now devices.

One object of theinvention is to provide an improved flow device including a` valve of the stage lift type, a plurality of which are mounted l at different elevations in the tubing of a well for admitting gas, or other fluid pressure into the tubing, whereby the well fluid within-said tubing at each valve is elevated by the pressure introduced at that particular valve.

An important object of the invention `is to provide an improved stage valve'which is operated by the velocity ofthe well fluid passing upwardly in the tubing, whereby a minimum of gas or air pressure is necessary to flow any type of well.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved .stage lift valve which positively prevents downward flow of the well fluid through' the tubing as soon as said fluid stops upward flow therethrough, and means for introducing gas or air pressure above the cut-off means whereby the` well fluid thereabove is elevated, the positive cutoff reducing slippage, thereby providing for more efficient flowing of the well. Y Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for flowing wells including a plurality of stage valves mounted at different elevations in the tubing, said valves being so arranged that they may be spaced irrespective of the fluid level in the well, each valve having means for positively cutting off downward flow of the well fluid therethrough, whereby the fluid is positively lifted in stages, the tubing remaining full of fluid at all times,l which permits flow to sta'rt immediately upon the release of gas or air pressure into the tubing through the valves.l

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved stage valve for controlling the flow of well fluid through the well tubing and also for controlling the introduction of air or gas pressure, for flowing the well, into the tubing-said ow controll and pressure control co-acting with each other according to the velocity of the well fluid flowing through the valve.

A still further object Aof the invention is to provide a stage valve which is so arranged that sand, or other abrasive material present in the well will not accumulate in the workingparts thereof to interfere with the operation thereof,

whereby the efllciency of said valve is increased and the life thereof prolonged.

A construction designed to carry out the vention will be hereinafter described, together with other'features of the invention. l

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

(Cl. 10S-232) Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a well, showing stage valves constructed in accordance with the invention, connected in the tubing,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the stage valve, with the valve plunger in a lowered position,

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2showing the valve plunger in a raised position,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

'Figure 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view of the -upper end of the valve plunger, and

Figure 7 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line I-'l of Figure 3.

, In the drawings the numeralv I designates a cylindrical housing or casing, ,which is internally screw-threaded at its upper and lower ends, whereby it may readily be connected in the tubing A of a well. An elongated cylinder I I is disposed axially within the housing at the mid-portion thereof and is supported by webs I2, which are preferably made integral with the housing. The webs and cylinder form a spider, which ex- .seat I5 formed on the upper side of a ring I6 which is screwed into the housing above the spider, (Figure 2). The valve and seat are preferably ground so as to assure a positive seal. When the well is flowing upwardly through the tubing A, thepressure thereof beneath the valve head will raise said head and plunger to permit fluid to flow'upwardly past the valve and seat. However, should the well fluid lose its velocityv and begin to fall downwardly in the tubing, the valve would immediately close to positively prevent downward flow through the tubing.

It is pointed out that the valve head I4 and seat I5 are located at a distance above the spider. Therefore, any sand or sediment present in the fluid will not accumulate on the spider and in the cylinder between the walls lthereof and the plunger. This sand and sediment will accumulate on the valve head and seat and when the valve is again raised, as will be explained, the well fluid will carry the same upwardly therewith. Thus, these abrasive materials are prevented from seeping into the cylinder and interfering with the tends transversely within the housing, and it is operation of the plunger, thereby prolonging the life of the entire structure.

The lower end of the plunger I3 is threaded to receive a circular nut I8 which has a greater diameter than the plunger. A cotter key I9 extends diametrically through the screw-threaded portion of said plunger beneath the nut to prevent its unscrewing therefrom. The extreme lower end of the plunger is rounded and the sharp lower edge of the nut is also rounded, so as to reduce resistance to the upward ow of the well fluid through the housing I0. It is obvious that when the plunger is raised by the well fluid raising the valve head |4, the nut I8 will strike the lower end of the cylinder to limit the upward movement of the plunger.

For introducing gas or air pressure from the casing B of the well into the tubing to flow the well when the same cannot flow itself, the webs I2 of the spider are provided with radially extending ducts 20 (Figures 2 and 5). The ducts extend from the outer periphery of the housing I0 to the exterior of the cylinder I I, whereby air or gas pressure within the casing B of the well is introduced into the cylinder The plunger I3 is formed with an annular peripheral groove 2|, which is located so that when said plunger is in a lowered position and thevalve head I4 seated, thegroove registers with the ducts 20. Thus, it will be seen that with the plunger lowered, gas or air pressure from the casing B enters the annular groove 2| in the plunger.

From the groove this gas or air pressure passes through radial ports 22 in the plunger. 'I'hese ports 22 have their inner ends connected with the lower end of an axial passage 23, which extends upwardly through the plunger into the valve head I4. 'I'he extreme upper end of the passage is enlarged at 24, whereby a shoulder 25 is formed. This shoulder is provided with an annular valve seat 26 which is arranged to be engaged by a ball 21, whereby the passage 23 is closed.

The enlarged portion 24 is internally screwthreaded to receive an annular nozzle 2'I (Figure 6). The nozzle is provided with upwardly convergent ducts 28 which extend from the lower end of said nozzle and incline upwardly toward each other. The upper ends of the' ducts communicate with an axial outlet 29 in the upper end of the nozzle. 28 are spaced so that when the ball 2'| is raised `by the gas or air pressure passing upwardly through the passage 23, said ball will not close the ducts but will engage the underside of the nozzle at the central portion thereof. Thus it will be seen that when the plunger I3 is in a lowered po- -sition with the valve head I4 engaging the seat I5, the gas or air pressure from the casing B o1' the well will 110W through the ducts 20, ports 22 and upwardly through the'passage 23. 'I'his pressure will unseat the ball valve 21 and pass through the nozzle 21 into the tubing A above the valve head I4, which will elevate the well uid which Ais trapped above the head I4.

In operation any desired number of the stage valves are connected in the tubing. The valves are spaced according to the amount of air or gas pressure in the casing A. Assuming that the well on which installation is made does not produce sufficient gas to flow the well, it is necessary to introduce auxiliary gas or air into the casing. As shown in Figure 1, the tubing A is packed oil from the casing B at the lower end thereof by a packer C. The upper end ofthe casing is closed and a lead pipe 30, connected with a suit- 'I'he lower ends of the ducts pipe 3B is eliminated, as is the packer.

` able to removing mud from a well.

able source of air or gas supply is entered into the casing. It is obvious that as the pressure builds up in the casing, the air or gas pressure will enter the uppermost stage valve to elevate the well uid thereabove. 'Ihis starts the well owing and as the valve head I4 unseats, the gas or air supply to this valve is cut off due to the plunger I3 moving upwardly within the cylinder, which movement causes the groove 2| to move out of registration with the radial ducts 20 in the web, thereby closing said ducts.

The gas or air pressure then enters the tubing at the stage valve next therebelow and sequentially at each lower stage. It is obvious that when iiow starts, the well fluid is positively lifted in stages. 'Ihat is, assuming the well uid has sufficient pressure to unseat the valve head I4, then such fluid iiows upwardly thereby. At this time the gas or air pressure is cut off, due to the upward movement of the plunger. When the velocity of the fluid has decreased and said fluid starts to fall back through the tubing, the valve head I4 immediately seats to trap the fluid thereabove, The seating of the valve head lowers thev YI4 to the next stage valve, which valve lifts it to the next above valve, and so on until the fluid is raised to the surface.

It is pointed out that the valve Ahead I4 positively cuts off any downward flow of the well uid through the tubing. The seating of this valve is accomplished by the weight of the well fluid thereabove, and this valve remains closed until the gas pressure ejecting from the nozzle has raised the` fluid column which permits the well uid to unseat said valve head and permit another column of uid to flow thereby.

'I'he action of the valves is entirely automatic, the gas or air pressure from the well casing B being admitted only when the flow through the tubing has stopped. The pressure is cut off immediately when flow through the stage valve again starts. 'Ihis action reduces the gas or air necessary, to flow the well, to a minimum. The positive cut off of the downward flow makes the valve adaptable for use in all types of wells, regardless of the production, That is, it may be used on wells producing oil, wells producing oil and gas, wells producing oil and water, or wells where highly corrosive elements are encountered. The valves have been found particularly adaptable in flowing mud from the well, which is made possible because of the positive stage lift action.

In Figure 1, auxiliary air or gas pressure is introduced into the casing B through the inlet pipe 30. In some cases, the well produces sufficient gas to flow the well and in such event, the The top of the casing remains covered and gas rising in Athe casing B from the oil bearing sand is utilized to operate the stage valves. In still other cases,

gas bearing strata may be present at a point above the bottom of the hole.l If this occurs, the packer C remains in position as shown in Figure 1, but the pipe 3U is eliminated. The well casing B is perforated at the'level of the gas bearing strata and the gas therefrom enters the casing and is utilized to elevate the iluid, being admitted through the stage valves.

The device has been found particularly adaptsame for this purpose, the drill stem (not shown) In using the' having the valves l0 connected therein is then be reclprocated endwise by the well fluid within" the tubing relative to a flow checking seat'part n of the housing whereby to open to permit upward ow of fluid through the tubing and to vc lose to prevent downward flow of liquid through and from the tubing and means co-acting with the -valve comprising communicable passages in the valve and housing to admit fluid under pressure from the well casing constantly into the housing ybelow the valve seat part and into the tubing above said valve when `the valve is closed, whereby Vthe well fluid thereabove is elevated.

2. A ilow device arranged to be connected in a well tubing including, a housing, a cylinder supported within the housing and communicating with the casing of the well, whereby pressure fluid inder for controlling the admission of pressure` fluid from the cylinder to the tubing above the valve, said pressure fluid conducting means being .active only in the closed .position of the valve.

3. A flow device arranged to be connected in a well tubing including, a housing, a cylinder supported'within the housing and communicating with the casing of the well, whereby pressure fluid from the casing is` conducted to the cylinder, a valve above the cylinder actuated by the well fluid arranged to open to permit upward flow of the Well fluid through the tubing and arranged to close to prevent vdownward flow of liquid through and from the tubing, and a plunger having passages for conducting pressure fluid therethrough and being actuated by the valvev andslldable in the cylinder for controlling the admission of pressure fluid from the cylinder to the tubing above the valve, said plunger being so arranged as to permit admission of pressure fluid to the tubing when the valve is closed and to cut off said pressure fluid when the valve is open.

4. A flow device arranged to be connected in a well tubing including, a housing, a cylinder supported within the housing and communicating with the casing of the well, whereby pressure fluid from the casing is conducted to the cylinder, a

valve seat located at a distance above the cylinder, a valve actuated by fluid adapted to engage the seat and arranged to unseat to permit upplunger depending .from andactuated by the valve and slidable in the cylinder for controlling the admission of pressure fluid from the cylinder to the tubing above the valve, said plunger having communicable passages for conducting pressure fluid active only in the closed position of the valve.

5. A flow device arranged to be connected in a Well tubing including, a housing, a cylinder ol smaller diameter than the housing located ax-v ially therein, transverse webs for supporting said cylinder whereby well fluid within the tubing may flow by said cylinder, said webs having radial ports extending from the outer wall of the housing to the cylinder so that fluid under pressure within the well casing is conducted to the interior of the cylinder, a valve above the cylinder actuated by the well fluid and arranged to open to permit upward flow of the well fluid of liquid through and-from the tubing and also to close to prevent downward flowv therethrough,l and a plunger depending from the valve andslidable in the cylinder for controlling the admission of pressure fluid from the cylinder to the tubing above the valve, said plunger having pressure fluid conducting passages communicable with said radial ports of the cylinder in the closed position only of the valve. 6. A flow device arranged to be connected in a well tubing including, a housing, a cylinder of smaller diameter than the housing -located axially therein, transverse webs for supporting said cylinder whereby well fluid within the tubing may flow by said cylinder, said webs having radial ports extending from the outer wall of the housing to the cylinder 'so that fluid under pressure' within the well casing is conducted to the cylinder, a valve seat located at a distance above the cylinder, a valve .actuated by fluidA adapted to engage the seat and arranged to unseat to permit l upward flow of the well fluid through the tubing and also to close to prevent downward ilow of liquid through' and from the tubing, anda plunger depending from and actuated by the valve and slidable in the cylinder for controlling the admission of fluid pressure from the cylinder to the tubing above the valve, said plunger having an axial pressure fluid passage extending with its upper end communicably to the'top of the valve 'and its lower end being communicable with said radial ports of the cylinder in the closed position only of the valve.

'1. A flow device arranged to be connected in a well tubing within a well casing and including, a housing, flow control meansl within the housing comprising a valve member arranged to be opened by the well fluid to permit upward flow of liquidthrough the tubing and arranged to be closed `to"prevent downward flow of liquid through and from the tubing, and means co-acting with said flow control valve member for admitting fluid under pressure from the well casing into the tubing when said ilo'w control valve is closed, said means comprising a supporting portion within said housing provided with pressure fluid conducting means communicable with the well casing, and the v/alve member having a plunger extension operating in s aid support and provided with an axial passage having an upwardly opening check valve in its upper end portion and communicable at its lower end with the pressure fluid conducting means of said valve sup-v porting portion of the housing.

- JON R. LONG. 

